Maria Dallas (born Marina Devcich, 1946) was discovered at a talent contest in small town of
Morrinsville
Morrinsville is a provincial town in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, with an estimated population of as of The town is located at the northern base of the Pakaroa Range, and on the south-western fringe of the Hauraki Plains. ...
, New Zealand.
Her first single "Tumblin' Down", written by
Jay Epae, released in 1966 and made it to #11 in the charts. It also won her a
Loxene Golden Disc
The Loxene Golden Disc was an annual New Zealand music award. It ran from 1965 to 1972. It was superseded by the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA).
Background
The awards launched in 1965 and is the forerunner of the New Zealand Music Awards. It ...
award.
She released several albums and singles and starred in the New Zealand television series ''
Golden Girl'' before moving on to Australia in 1967 recording "
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactics, military tactic in which a combatant uses an advantage of concealment or the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions, such as among dense underbru ...
" charting #20 in Australia and then to Nashville. She returned to New Zealand in 1970 and scored a #1 hit with the song "Pinocchio".
The song spent six weeks at number one during the autumn of the year. In total, Dallas produced at least 10 albums and 25 singles.
"Pinocchio" peaked at number 96 in Australia in March 1971.
Personal life
Dallas met Barry Kairl while she was performing in Brisbane, and he became her manager. They married in 1968, and had a daughter in May 1969. The relationship ended in 1983.
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Discography
Studio albums
* ''Country Girl'' (1966, Viking)
* ''The Second Album'' (1966, Viking)
* ''Maria Dallas In Nashville'' (1967, Viking)
* ''Western Take-Off'' (1967, Viking)
* ''Face To Face'' (1967, Viking)
* ''Tumblin' Down'' (1968, RCA Victor)
* ''Pinocchio'' (1970, Viking)
* ''Town And Country'' (1972, Viking)
Awards and nominations
Aotearoa Music Awards
The Aotearoa Music Awards
The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...
(previously known as ''New Zealand Music Awards'' (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music
The music of New Zealand has been influenced by a number of traditions, including Māori music, the music introduced by European settlers during the nineteenth century, and a variety of styles imported during the twentieth century, including b ...
and have been presented annually since 1965.
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References
External links
AudioCulture profile
*Gerry still a pacemaker, ''Waikato Times'', 29 January 2005
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dallas, Maria
1946 births
Living people
New Zealand people of Croatian descent
20th-century New Zealand women singers
Viking Records artists
People from Morrinsville